American Pastors Network Plays Key Role in Ukraine Humanitarian Aid

Recent Leadership Summit Opened Doors to Meet Critical Needs

PHILADELPHIA—The people of Ukraine have many needs in the wake of the recent political, economic and cultural upheaval.

One of the greatest immediate needs is bandages to help treat the wounded soldiers. Recently, the American Pastors Network (APN, www.AmericanPastorsetwork.net), which this summer participated in an International Leadership Summit in Ukraine with more than 100 elected officials and pastors, helped deliver 54 packages of much-needed QuikClot® Interventional Hemostatic Bandages™. These are soft, white, double-sterile, hydrophilic pads with the mineral kaolin, and they are applied topically to control bleeding.

APN Board Member Dale Armstrong, who just returned from Ukraine, says that the most immediate need in Ukraine is humanitarian aid, including water purification tablets and individual medical kits for each soldier.

“One of the greatest specific needs is this quick-clotting bandage that stops the bleeding of the injured fast,” Armstrong said. “Delivering the QuikClot bandages during these recent trips was not only life-saving to some of the injured, but the initiative has also cemented trust and opened further doors. I believe this act of care proved our trust and friendship, in their terms and in their culture.”

The bandages APN delivered coast approximately $2,500 demonstrating that even some of the smallest critical items are in short supply.

“Churches and pastors in Ukraine have taken a tremendous role in meeting the needs of the army,” Armstrong continued. “Just as pastors came together with elected leaders at the summit this summer to help Ukraine work towards a biblically based, constitutional government, now pastors are playing a major role bringing aid to the soldiers on the front lines of battle.  All of these efforts together will help Ukraine as the nation seeks stability and direction that will lead to freedom for the people of Ukraine.”

Armstrong, who also serves as secretary and treasurer for the Pennsylvania Pastors Network (PPN, www.papastors.net), has taken several trips to Ukraine this spring and summer, with more planned.  Earlier this summer, he and other APN leaders visited Ukraine for the International Leadership Summit at the invitation of Bishop Valery Reshetinsky, who also serves as the Chairman of the Ukrainian Interchurch Council that represents 20 different evangelical denominations. At the Summit, APN trained Ukraine’s political and pastoral leaders in the biblical principles necessary for constitutional government. Future summits on the Constitution, education and economics are in the works.

Having recently traveled to Ukraine on a humanitarian trip, Armstrong plans to return to further the work and build relationships, especially as APN is in the planning stages of formulating its Ukraine Initiative, which will send help where help is needed most and work toward rebuilding the country through its pastors and leaders. Projects are in the works so that others can donate the much-needed bandages and raise funds specifically for this purpose.

Armstrong sent daily email updates from Ukraine, and, after being given a personal tour of two military hospitals by high-ranking officials and seeing first-hand the pressing needs, he recently wrote: “Our immediate needs are extra funding, as I do believe the humanitarian aid is building a stronger bridge of trust, apart from the fact that we are saving lives.”

Armstrong noted that these hospitals were working at capacity to meet the needs of a nation at peace, and they simply weren’t prepared for the overwhelming demands of war.

The pastor and APN leader is working to purchase more bandages, approximately 100, as well as up to 1,000 tourniquets, which will cost about $15,000 total.

“I believe it’s a part of the friendship process that ensures greater cooperation and promotion of our main goal,” Armstrong said, “which remains the most important thing in Ukraine’s future—a Constitutional summit focused on the biblical foundations of government.”

Armstrong began ministering the gospel at the age of 16 and has pastored several churches in Pennsylvania and ministered in many nations of the world. He and his wife, Teri, lead the Armada Network, a missions organization with more than 60 members including pastors, missionaries and Christian leaders.

One thought on “American Pastors Network Plays Key Role in Ukraine Humanitarian Aid

  1. Hi, my name is Viktoriya Grice. I live in Elizabeth PA. Originally my son and I are from Ukraine (Kherson). We came to United State almost 12 years ago. It’s a heart braking for me to see what is going there right now and how Russian army getting closer and closer to the city I am from. Almost a year ago my husband and I planted a non-denominational christian church Spirit Chapel in our township ( http://spiritchapel.us/, https://www.facebook.com/SpiritChapelElizabeth ). Rick Saccone, who attends this church told to us about PA pastors network and your involvement and help to Ukraine.
    I have couple questions:
    1. How Spirit Chapel can join PA pastors network?
    2. Spirit Chapel would like to help Ukraine with donation, humanitarian aid or anything we can do useful. Please let me know what would be the best and more effective and how we can do it. Also I can speak and write Ukrainian and Russian. My son Stanislav can speak and write Russian, more or less understand Ukrainian. He is currently in college with a Russian major for his future career of a translator.
    God Bless you Viktoriya Grice

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